Serengeti Balloon Safari, Tanzania National Park
Video Courtesy: Yusuph Haphani
The essence of a Hot Air Balloon Ride
I woke up to be taken on a Hot Air Balloon Safari over the Serengeti National Park. Well, it wasn’t as romantic as you think for me. Unfortunately, for me it was only a virtual tour now as we all are mostly stuck at our homes.
And, thought of sharing a bit of that experience with you here. Also, did you know? Serengeti Balloon Safaris were the pioneers of the African skies!
A Serengeti balloon safari is an extraordinary opportunity to relish a bird’s eye-view of the phenomenal sweeping plains below. Tiny little dots rove across the diverse landscape and as you get closer you are spectator to the most magnificent view of dramatically striped black and white zebra, sashaying enormous grey elephants meandering to a waterhole, wiry warthogs foraging in the grassy scrub and subtle swishes of puffed golden tails reveal lions lolling under shady trees.
Pioneers of the African skies
Serengeti Balloon Safaris happens to be the first company to set a balloon aloft over the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.
The seed of an adventure
It was mere coincidence that brought two like-minded adventurers together and the seed of a new idea began to grow in 1984.
Colin MacKinnon, a pioneer of commercial ballooning in the UK and an early hot air balloon pilot in Kenya’s Maasai Mara, wanted to fly balloons over the Serengeti.
Tony Pascoe had experience of running luxury camps and a safari business in East Africa and was excited by the prospect of such a venture. It was a good match and they began working out on how to turn their dream in to reality.
Getting things off the ground
Ballooning was completely new to Tanzania, and it took five good years for Colin and Tony, together with their wives Sally and Marijka and their new Tanzanian partner, Jimmy Mkwawa, to get all the permissions and licences in place.
They finally placed an order for their first 8-passenger balloon from Cameron Balloons, the world’s leading balloon manufacturer, in the ‘acacia-green’ and ‘savannah-gold’ of the Serengeti.
Proving it can be done
The first balloon took to the skies above the vast plains of the Serengeti in 1991.
Those first years were tough as visitors to the Park were few; there was only one safari lodge and a handful of camps fed by infrequent flights to the park. It also took time to win over the sceptics and demonstrate the company’s commitment and environmental responsibility.
Smoothing rough edges
Serengeti Balloon Safaris took delivery of the first 16-passenger balloon – the largest commercial balloon in the world in 1983. Colin continued to refine the company’s operation, logistics and safety while Tony focussed on marketing the experience to tourism partners around the world.
The first Tanzanian pilot
Mohamed Masudi was sponsored by Serengeti Balloon Safaris to train in the United States, became the very first Tanzanian commercial hot-air balloon pilot in 2001.
It is mandatory for passengers to wear safety belts, becoming the only country to do so. Serengeti also improved safe flying practice by reducing the maximum wind speed for take-off from 15 to 8 knots, and the maximum altitude to 2000ft above ground level.
On every bucket-list
Serengeti Balloon Safaris carried its 200,000 th passenger, making it to the top list of the top balloon companies in the world in 2019.
A Serengeti Balloon Safari has become a ‘bucket list’ experience for many travellers on a safari in Tanzania, one that has featured in the media around the world. Members of royal families, presidents, Heads of State and celebrities have all been borne aloft under the green and gold of a Serengeti Balloon. So, what are you waiting for? If You have any queries, feel happy to talk to my friend from Tanzania, Yusuph Haphani. More videos from up above would be shared soon! 🙂
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